Lectures to My Students Quotes

“Knowing something myself of those secret whippings which our good Father administers to his servants when he sees them unduly exalted, I heartily add my own solemn warnings against your pampering the flesh by listening to the praises of the kindest friends you have. They are unwise, and you must beware of them.”
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students: Practical and Spiritual Guidance for Preachers, Volume 2

“On the other hand, you were on the high horse in your last sermon and finished with quite a flourish of trumpets, and you feel considerable anxiety to know what impression you produced. Repress your curiosity: it will do you no good to inquire. If the people should happen to agree with your verdict, it will only feed your pitiful vanity, and if they think otherwise, your fishing for their praise will injure you in their esteem. In any case, it is all about yourself, and this is a poor theme to be anxious about; play the man, and do not demean yourself by seeking compliments like little children when dressed in new clothes who say, “See my pretty frock.” Have you not by this time discovered that flattery is as injurious as it is pleasant? It softens the mind and makes you more sensitive to slander.”
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students: Practical and Spiritual Guidance for Preachers, Volume 2

“When I was about to leave my village charge for London, one of the old men prayed that I might be “delivered from the bleating of the sheep.” For the life of me I could not imagine what he meant, but the riddle is plain now, and I have learned to offer the prayer myself. Too much consideration of what is said by our people, whether it be in praise or in depreciation, is not good for us. If we dwell on high with that great shepherd of the sheep, we shall care little for all the confused bleatings around us, but if we become carnal, and walk as men, we shall have little rest if we listen to this, that, and the other which every poor sheep may bleat about us.”
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students: Practical and Spiritual Guidance for Preachers, Volume 2

“Learn to disbelieve those who have no faith in their brethren. Suspect those who would lead you to suspect others. A resolute unbelief in all the scandalmongers will do much to repress their mischievous energies.”
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students: Practical and Spiritual Guidance for Preachers, Volume 2

“The top of their misery in this life is, that they love so little, though they are so much beloved.”
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Lectures to my Students, the second Series